Organic Cereal: Here's Why You Should Be Buying It

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but we're often too rushed or tired to put much thought into what we eat when we wake up. However, the healthier your breakfast is, the better prepared you are to take on the day. Although the most popular cereals are the sugary, almost-dessert varieties like Frosted Flakes, Lucky Charms and Cinnamon Toast Crunch, eating organic cereal for breakfast is the best way to start the day.

Videos by Wide Open Country

As yummy as a bowl of Lucky Charms or Froot Loops is, these morning meals will often cause a crash in energy mid-morning. This is partly because of how much sugar and carbs they contain, but it's also a result of the chemicals, pesticides, artificial flavors and preservatives that can be found in many non-organic foods.

What Makes Organic Cereal Organic?

This is why organic cereal is so great- it has to be grown and manufactured to higher standards, which results in more natural ingredients and fewer chemicals and pesticides. There are strict organic guidelines that organic cereal has to meet to be considered organic, including the ingredients used and the manufacturing process.

Organic farming techniques are designed to help the environment by reducing pollution, enhancing the quality of the soil and water, and allowing livestock to live in healthy conditions. To ensure these goals, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides aren't permitted, and organic farmers can't use growth hormones or antibiotics for their livestock.

Rather than using pesticides and chemicals, organic farmers use natural manure and compost, rotate crops to preserve soil quality, and use mulch for weeds. As for the livestock, farmers provide them healthy living conditions, organic food to eat, and pasture feeding for healthier, happier animals.

All of these differences in ingredients and farming techniques result in foods that are free of harmful neurotoxins, full of more vitamins and minerals, and more energizing. Because of this, choosing organic cereal is an effective way to control what's going into your body and start the day full of energy! To find organic cereal in the grocery store, look for a USDA Organic seal.

What Are Some Organic Cereal Choices?

There are many organic breakfast cereal options out there, making it difficult to choose which to start with. A good way to figure out what you like is to buy a different organic cereal each time you run out, until you find your favorite!

Kashi

One of the best organic cereal brands is Kashi. Chocolate lovers can try the Kashi GO Chocolate Crunch Cereal, which is made with fair-trade ingredients like brown rice, barley and red wheat. Plus, it has 10 grams of protein and 9 grams of fiber.

Cascadian Farm Organic

Another popular brand is Cascadian Farm Organic. This brand often takes inspiration from the more popular cereals, providing a tasty and healthy version of them. Cinnamon Crunch Cereal is the organic cousin of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, while Honey Nut O's Cereal is akin to Cheerios. These both have no artificial flavors and are made with whole grains. Cascadian Farm Organic also makes delectable organic granolas like Organic Honey and Oat cereal.

Quaker Organic Instant Oatmeal

For those who love a warm, comforting bowl of oatmeal in the morning, Quaker Organic Instant Oatmeal is a healthy, yummy choice. This USDA certified organic instant oatmeal comes in maple and brown sugar, harvest apple and cinnamon spice, and original, and you can add any nuts, fruit or brown sugar to make breakfast even tastier. Quaker is non-GMO and low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

Nature's Path

Nature's Path is another excellent choice when it comes to Organic cereal. Heritage Crunch Cereal is made with six ancient grains and is made with quinoa, millet, Kamut Khorasan, spelt and barley, adding up to 17 g of whole grains.

If whole grain cereal isn't your jam, you can also try Nature's Path EnviroKidz Organic Cereal, from Chocolate Choco Chimps to Peanut Butter Panda Puffs. These are definitely marketed toward kids, but they have benefits for people of all ages. The Chocolate Choco Chimps are gluten-free along with its many other benefits. Plus, one percent of the EnviroKidz cereals is donated to helping endangered species.

I personally go for Granola when I eat cereal for breakfast, and Nature's Path also has a delicious Organic Granola options. From Caramel Pecan to Red Berry & Dark Chocolate to Pumpkin Seed & Flax, their organic granolas are flavorful and filling. The Pumpkin Seed & Flax Granola is made with whole grain rolled oats, cinnamon, sea salt, pumpkin and flax seeds.